Another View: Mississippi goes back to school with question of prayer

Politeness dictates it's wise to avoid public discussions on religion. The nearly inevitable challenges imposed when one person's beliefs entangle with another set of differing beliefs are bound to cause conflict.No place is that more true than the United States of America.We consider ourselves to be the land of the free and home of the brave, yet we're often scared to discuss how we might retain our country's religious roots without simultaneously compromising religious freedom as well.Based on a series of questionable court decisions, the official federal stance is that religion has no place in our schools.The federal government doesn't know what to think about religion so as a result we politely just avoid the discussion until someone makes a big deal out of it.Fortunately, the majority of Mississippians are quite comfortable talking religion and perfectly happy to fight over what they feel is true and correct.The latter will probably be needed if either of two bills up for consideration in the Mississippi Legislature becomes law. Both bills take on the issue of religious freedom. Some supporters say the bills opens the door for prayer in public schools.We've long supported allowing local school districts the option of allowing school prayer, but the issue is so murky given the federal courts' stance that most folks choose not to discuss the matter.Bill authors say their intent isn't to circumvent federal law but to simply clarify what is and isn't legally able to be discussed in schoolsWe hope lawmakers give strong consideration to them, and then we hope the state will aggressively defend it in federal court when necessary.

---The Natchez (Miss.) Democrat

58% 'very religious,' but ...

Mississippi is the nation's most religious state, according to a recent Gallup Poll. It's a distinction Mississippi has earned more than once.

With 58 percent of Mississippi residents describing themselves as "very religious," that percentage is 18 points higher than the national average of 40 percent. (In Louisiana, it is 53 percent.)

That said, the Magnolia State also has its share of atheists, people who deny or disbelieve the existence of a supreme being or beings.

"Speaking out is often difficult," a poster says online at www.MSAtheists.org, "especially in an environment that can be downright hostile to nonbelievers at times. But we cannot assume that every one of our neighbors is acting out of bad intent. Some really do not know any better. ..."

---The Town Talk

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Another View: Mississippi goes back to school with question of prayer

Politeness dictates it's wise to avoid public discussions on religion. The nearly inevitable challenges imposed when one person's beliefs entangle with another set of differing beliefs are bound to